Friday, January 25, 2013

Driving in the Middle of Your Lane

When I was learning to drive with my learner's permit in High School I drove almost exclusively with my mother.  To my knowledge this was also the case with both of my brothers.  I've always found this strange because my mom is usually the more high strung of our parents.  My dad is just about the most mellow person I've ever met.  But not when we were in the car.  To this day I can count on my two hands the number of times that I've driven with my father in the car.  My dad was such a tense driving teacher that it was way easier to learn with my mom in the passenger seat.

But I clearly remember one piece of advice that my father gave me when we were driving together.  He said, "It's really easy to ride the lines.  You can hug the left, you can ride to the right, but a good driver stays in the middle of his lane."

I still think about this when driving, especially when I'm on a narrow patch of multi-lane highway.  I have to admit though, it wasn't until recently that I made a spiritual connection to the advice that my father gave me.

On the road if you drive off to the left, you are in for a serious rude awakening hitting another car head on.  If you veer off to the right you will likely hit a tree.  On a multi-lane highway you might hit a pylon or a mack truck if you don't stay in your lane.  The same principal applies to our spiritual lives.  The bible says in Matthew 7:13-14 that the road that leads to life is a narrow one and that straying on the wide road leads to destruction.

I'm not saying that staying in your lane prevents all accidents, because there might be debris in the road and sometimes someone else will swerve into your lane.  Both can cause a serious crash, but when you stay in your lane you are a lot better off.  Again, the same principal applies to our spiritual lives.  When you follow the narrow road that God directs all of us on you might encounter things that trip you up.  Sometimes issues from other people's lives will crash into your own.  But again, those things are less likely to happen when you follow the path on which God has directed you.

It is worth noting that it is harder to stay in the middle of your lane.  It's easy to hug the lines on the left or the right, but anything worth doing is worth doing well.  So I encourage you today to watch out for potholes and debris, keep an eye out for other drivers, and stay on the straight and narrow.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Too Legit to Quit

There are times in life when quitting just isn't an option.  If you're swimming in deep water and a shark is chasing you, quitting is not an option.  If you are a man rushing to the hospital in time to be with your wife as your first child is being born, quitting is not an option.  If you are down by 5 points while in the red zone during the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, quitting is not an option.

But there are times in life when quitting is TOTALLY an option.  If you are in a horrible job that you hate and have hustled (TM Jon Acuff) to make your dream work for you, it's totally okay to quit.  If you have an addiction, it's time to quit.  If you are a volunteer who is burnt out and needs some time to recover and rediscover their passion for serving, it is definitely time to quit.

But let me tell you this, quitting isn't always the best option.  And just because it is an option, doesn't mean it is the right option.

So i'm here to tell you, MC Hammer style, that I'm just "too legit to quit".

I'm part of an organization that I've been involved in for years and quite frankly, they have dug themselves a hole.  They are in a tough spot financially and their membership has dwindled over the last decade.  But I'm not leaving...  why?  Because I want to be a part of the solution.  Plenty of people have taken the easy way out and left already.  I don't want to be a man known for taking the easy way out.  If the organization ends up shutting it's doors, I'll say that I was there and gave my all trying to do the right thing and fighting to save something that is worth saving.  If the group manages to change their current direction, start thinking forward, and develop a unified vision for their future, I'll be able to say that I was a part of God doing something amazing and miraculous.

As humans we have a sort of spark inside of us.  That spark is the fingerprint of God that shows we are made by God and in God's image.  Part of that spark is our penchant for stories of redemption.  Just as God loves to restore the broken, we love seeing it happen.  This is why we love characters like Rocky Balboa, Darth Vader, and Severus Snape.  We love to see the broken restored to greatness.

So rather than just watch movies and read books about it, I'd rather be a part of God's adventure.  I am resolved to be a part of God restoring this once great organization.

So I'll ask you to join in God's adventure.  What is there in your life that you could quit, but instead should be a part of?

Friday, January 4, 2013

Lacking Motivation

Hey guys!  I'm back from Christmas/New Years vacation.  Amanda and I visited her cousin out in northern California and had a great time!

Since we returned I've been having a serious problem though.  I've been having real morning motivation issues.  I've been turning off my alarm clock, sleeping in later than I want, and putting off important things that I need to do.  The weird thing is that it really only seems to be in the morning.  By the late afternoon I'm ready to do whatever it is that I have set for the day (too bad some things need to be started in the morning).  
I really feel stuck in a rut.


I'm not sure what is going on with me.  In the past when going through a time where I lack motivation I have written myself "To-Do" lists or review my goals, but this time I really feel like I need a jump start.

So what am I going to do about it?

1. I am going to move my alarm clock.  I will need to get out of bed to turn it off.  This will be the very first step (quite literally) to motivation in the morning.

2. I am going to set out my clothing the night before.  Everything will be ready for whatever task I have in the morning.  If I'll be doing construction at the camp in the morning, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.  If I am going to be spending the day cleaning the house, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.  If I am going to be starting my day at the gym, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.

3. I will be sure to keep healthy breakfast options available in the house at all times.

4. I'm going to create a checklist of things I need to do and mark it each day (the OCD part of Amanda will love this!).

5. I am committing publicly to do the things I'm saying I'll do.  I hope that you, my readers will hold me accountable.

I think these simple steps (in addition to me just talking about this here) will help.  If I somehow forget to update you in the coming weeks, please remind me so that I can let you know how things are going.

Thinking about how this relates to this time of year it's somewhat ironic - new years resolutions and all.  How have you stayed motivated to keep resolutions in the past?  Do any of you have any new years resolutions for this year?

One last thought:  For those of you who have become jaded with the idea of new years resolutions, I ask you to take a look at Lamentations 3:40.  God calls us to examine our lives regularly.  If it takes a new year for you to become convinced to evaluate your goals, motivations, or desires - your life - why not let God use that for your betterment and His glory?